ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari says government is committed to shift public transport and logistics on 100 percent green and clean sources of energy
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari said the government is committed to shift public transport and logistics on 100% green and clean sources of energy. Addressing the Symposium on International Automotive Technology he said the national hydrogen mission launched by the Prime Minister seeks to develop hydrogen technologies for the benefit of the mobility sector and make India the leader in production and usage of green-hydrogen. The Minister said
70% of Green hydrogen production costs come from electricity costs. Hence, surplus electricity from renewable energy sources can completely change economics of production of green hydrogen production. He said Green Hydrogen is termed as the fuel of the future and it is the only fuel which can help us achieve the mission of “Zero Carbon Emissions”.
Shri Gadkari said this year is special as it marks the beginning of celebrations of 75 years of Independence of India. He said we are marching with our vision led by Prime Minister Shri Modi Ji with a focus on becoming AtmaNirbhar across all sectors. He said our automobile sector is the pride of India and he was sure that it will take India’s manufacturing towards new heights, matching and even better than International standards.
The Minister saidrecently launched Production Linked Incentive scheme aims to boost ‘Advanced automotive technology products’ in the Indian auto sector which help to lower fossil fuel emissions. Shri Gadkari said government expects the scheme would lead to a fresh investment of more than Rs. 42,500 crore and creation of additional 7.5 lakh jobs in the sector.
He said as far as public transportation is concerned, the need of the hour is to develop import substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free, and indigenous mobility solutions for India and dependence on imported crude oil needs to be reduced.
Shri Gadkari said we are also planning to introduce flex-fuel vehicles which allow operation of the vehicles on 100% ethanol and petrol. He said Flex engine-based vehicles are already running in the USA, Brazil, and Canada. He said technology is readily available, and it is just a matter of time to take that leap that will transform the transport landscape of India forever.
The Minister said safety scenario on Indian roads needs improvement as every year approx. 1.5 lakh people die on Indian roads in almost 5 lakh accidents. He said the concept of Zero Vision, that is achieving zero accidents and zero loss of life is being adapted in India similar to European countries.
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Ministry of Power
3rd Energy Transitions Working Group  meeting to be held in Mumbai from May 15 – 17, 2023
: Mumbai, May 11, 2023
The 3rd Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting  under India’s G20 Presidency will be held in Mumbai from May 15 to 17, 2023. The three-day meeting will see over 100 delegates representing G20 member countries, special invitee countries and International Organisations such as International Energy Agency , Word Bank and World Energy Council India engaging in discussions and deliberation on Priority Areas.
The Meeting will be chaired by Shri Alok Kumar, ETWG Chair and Secretary, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India. Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Mines; and Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, will also be part of the Meeting and deliberations.
The Special Address on the opening day of the Meeting will be given by Union Minister of State for Railways, Coal and Mines, Shri Raosaheb Danve.
The six priority areas, outlined under India’s Presidency, include  Energy transition through addressing technology gaps  Low-cost financing for energy transition  Energy security and diversified supply chains  Energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions and responsible consumption,  Fuels for Future  and  Universal access to clean energy and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition pathway.
The discussions and deliberations in Mumbai will continue to build on the first two ETWG meetings held in Bengaluru and Gandhinagar to identify collective actions to promote equitable, shared, and inclusive growth.
On the sidelines, the Meeting will be complemented by eight side events – ‘Workshop with MDBs with the aim for mobilizing low-cost international finance, ‘Seminar on Just Transition Roadmap’, ‘Seminar on Biofuels’, ‘Seminar on Off-shore Wind’, ‘Sharing global policies and best practices to decarbonize had-to-abate sectors’, ‘Seminar on SMRs for clean energy transition’, ‘Synergizing the energy transition pathways of G20 ETWG and B20 India Energy Perspective’, and ‘Accelerating Energy Efficiency and promoting and energy efficient life.’
Under India's Presidency, four ETWG meetings, various side events and a Ministerial Meeting have been planned.
India’s G20 Presidency will build upon the efforts and outcomes of previous presidencies, which have successfully advanced the cause of global cooperation in clean energy transition and have made it central to the agenda of sustainable economic development.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
MyGov Karnataka launched to promote participatory governance in state
MyGov is the world's largest and most successful citizen engagement program, launched by the Hon PM on 26 July, 2014. MyGov Karnataka was launched by Chief Minister Shri Basavraj Bommai on 17th May 2022. Karnataka becomes the 17th state to have its own MyGov state instance.
MyGov Karnataka will work as an idea crowdsourcing platform and aims to promote active citizen participation and engagement in governance and policymaking.
Dissemination of timely and authentic information about welfare schemes of the Government is also the prime focus of MyGov Karnataka.
Citizens can register on karnataka.mygov.in to share opinions, ideas and suggestions with the Government.
Karnataka being a tech-savvy state, the government of Karnataka expects its citizens to participate and engage with Government in huge numbers. To this end, MyGov Karnataka has various ways to engage citizens with activities such as discussions, tasks, innovation challenges, polls, surveys, blogs, talks, quizzes and on-ground activities.
During the launch of MyGov India, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address mentioned that citizen participation in governance should not be limited just to voting; this initiative of MyGov is a step towards making an inclusive and holistic growth along with nation-building.
The government of Karnataka has urged its citizens to participate in this revolutionary platform, and participate in good governance.
Ministry of Finance
Government to encourage and facilitate role of women in India’s growth story
Women Self Help Group interest subvention programme to be extended to all districts
Every verified women SHG member with a Jan Dhan Bank Account to get an overdraft of Rs.5,000
One woman in every SHG will be eligible for a loan up to Rs. 1 lakh under the MUDRA Scheme
The Government wishes to encourage and facilitate the role of women in India’s growth story. The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said in Parliament today while presenting the Union Budget 2019-20 that “the role of women is a very sweet story” in India’s growth particularly in the rural economy. The Finance Minister proposed to form a broad-based Committee with Government and private stakeholders to evaluate and suggest action for moving forward. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said that gender analysis of the budget aimed at examining the budgetary allocation through a gender lens has been in place for over a decade.
The Finance Minister said that India can make progress with greater women’s participation in its growth story. The Minister quoted Swami Vivekananda’s letter to Swami Ramakrishna in which he had said that “there is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing”.
Women SHGs
Finance Minister proposed that for every verified woman Self Help Group  member, having a Jan Dhan Bank Account, an overdraft of Rs.5,000 will be allowed. She also proposed to expand the Women SHG interest subvention programme to all districts.
One woman in every SHG will also be made eligible for a loan up to Rs. 1 lakh under the MUDRA Scheme. The Government has supported and encouraged women entrepreneurship through various schemes such as MUDRA, Stand UP India and the Self Help Group  movement, the Finance Minister added.
Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM’s interaction with injured soldiers at Leh Hospital
Friends,
I have come to salute you all today. You have fought bravely! I had also said a few days ago that the brave-hearts who left us, did not depart without reason. You all have given a befitting reply. You are in a hospital that’s why you may not know that 130 crore citizens are proud of you. Your courage and valour are inspiring the whole new generation and therefore your valour, your courage and what you have done will continue to inspire our younger generation and our countrymen for a long time to come. Considering the global situation, a message has gone to the world about the valour shown by you brave-hearts. The way you stood up to the powers, the world wishes to know who are these brave-hearts? What has been their training? How lofty their sacrifice is? How commendable is their commitment! The world is analyzing your bravery.
I have come today only to salute you. By touching you and seeing you, I am going back with energy and inspiration. And let India be self-reliant; it has never bowed down before any power of the world and will not bow down in the future!
I am able to say this because of the brave mighty friends like you. I salute you. And at the same time I salute your brave mothers who gave birth to valiant warriors you, brought you up and sent you to fight for the country! We can't thank them enough.
Friends, I hope you get well very soon and let's together move ahead with this idea of discipline and cooperation.
Thank you!
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 218.99 Cr
Over 4.10 Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at 28,079
2,424 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.75%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 1.27%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 218.99 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 4.10 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10415264
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10119459
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
7042474
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
18436939
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17717567
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
13686910
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
41073529
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
31920574
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
61963310
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
53159399
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
561329598
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
515982127
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
97807220
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
204037803
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
197008790
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
49628526
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
127674214
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
123173219
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
47795722
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
21,59,60,852
|
|
Total
|
|
2,18,99,72,644
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at 28,079. Active cases now constitute 0.06% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.75%. 2,923 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,40,57,544.
2,424 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 91,458 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 89.70 Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 1.27% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 2.65%.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves establishment and operationalisation of permanent campuses of the Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research  at Tirupati and Berhampur
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved establishment and operationalistion of permanent campuses of the two new Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research  at Tirupati  and Berhampur . The total cost likely to be incurred is Rs. 3074.12 crore .
Creation of two posts of Registrar, one in each IISER in Level 14 of 7lh CPC has also been approved by the Cabinet.
Details:
- The total cost is assessed at Rs. 3074.12 crore, out of which 2366.48 crore will be spent for construction of permanent campuses of these institutes, as per the following details:
|
|
Institutes
|
|
Capital
|
|
Recurring
|
|
Total
|
|
IISER Tirupati
|
|
1137.16
|
|
354.18
|
|
1491.34
|
|
IISER Berhampur
|
|
1229.32
|
|
353.46
|
|
1582.78
|
|
Grand Total
|
|
2366.48
|
|
707.64
|
|
3074.12
- Both the IISERs will construct an area of 1,17,000 sq. m which will have complete infrastructural facilities for 1855 students in each IISER.
- The construction of permanent campuses of these institutes shall be completed by December, 2021.
Benefits:
The IISERs will provide top quality science education at the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate levels, PHDs & Integrated PHDs. They will carry out research in frontier areas of science. They will enable India move towards being a knowledge economy by attracting the best scientific talent as faculty and prepare a strong base of scientific manpower in India.
Background:
In 2015, IISER, Tirupati was established in pursuance to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, while IISER, Berhampur was established in 2016 in pursuance to the announcement made by the Union Finance Minister in his Budget speech, 2015. These institutes are presently functioning from transit campuses.
Ministry of Power
Vaccination drive continues unabated in POWERGRID
POWERGRID,Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Power has been organizing a number of vaccination drives across the country for its employees and their families to safeguard them from the COVID 19 pandemic. Vaccination camps are being organised in all the establishments of POWERGRID. These vaccination drives are being organized as part of the National mission.
A two-day vaccination camp was organized on 19th and 20th May 2021 at Regional Headquarters, Patna. The camp immunized the personnel of RHQ, Patna as well as the personnel of Patna Sub-station and Bihar Grid Company Limited. The camp was organized under the supervision of Patna District Immunization.
More than 350 personnel, which include employees their dependents, family and contract workers were vaccinated in the largest ever 2-day camp by the Eastern Region – I of POWERGRID.
Vaccination drive was also arranged at Ara, Biharsharif, Saharsa, and Muzaffarpur Sub-stations for employees, their family members and contract workers and security staff.
IFSC Authority
IFSCA and CEEW sign MoU to cooperate on sustainable finance
The International Financial Services Centres Authority  and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water  have signed a Memorandum of Understanding  for mutual assistance and cooperation in the area of sustainable finance.
India recently launched Mission LiFE  as an India-led global movement to protect and preserve the environment. This was closely followed by the commencement of India’s G20 Presidency, with the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. Sustainability is a common thread that runs through both these endeavours. In this context, finance is a key enabler – as highlighted by CEEW research, which estimates that India’s net zero by 2070 target would require USD 10 trillion in investments. GIFT-IFSC, an offshore jurisdiction within India, is emerging as a global hub for sustainable finance. It is against this backdrop that IFSCA and CEEW are collaborating through a wide-ranging MoU, which includes research and joint convenings.
Shri Injeti Srinivas, Chairperson - IFSCA, said, “India has shown global leadership in climate action and has committed itself to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. This MoU between IFSCA and CEEW, focusing on broad areas of sustainable finance, is a step towards achieving climate goals and mobilising global capital, through IFSC, towards sustainable development”.
Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, “We cannot talk about climate action without talking about climate finance. For that, capital needs to flow where the sun shines the most – the Global South. This MoU between IFSCA and CEEW will ensure cooperation on thorough research work and development of regulations and instruments for sustainable finance in India and as a conduit to sustainable investment in other emerging economies.”
About IFSCA
The IFSCA is a statutory authority established under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019  with a mandate to develop and regulate the financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres . GIFT-IFSC is the maiden IFSC in India. The IFSCA aims to develop a strong global connect and focus on the needs of the Indian economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform for the entire region.
About CEEW
The Council on Energy, Environment and Water  is one of Asia’s leading not-for-profit policy research institutions. The Council uses data, integrated analysis, and strategic outreach to explain – and change – the use, reuse, and misuse of resources. It prides itself on the independence of its high-quality research, develops partnerships with public and private institutions, and engages with the wider public. In 2021, CEEW once again featured extensively across ten categories in the 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The Council has also been consistently ranked among the world’s top climate change think tanks.
Ministry of Finance
DGGI Gurugram arrests man for fraudulently availing input tax credit of Rs 376 crore through 7 fake firms
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence  Gurugram Zonal Unit , Haryana, has arrested Shri Ritesh Aggarwal, resident of Bahadurgarh, Haryana on charges of passing and availment of fake ITC while operating dummy, fake and non-existent firms and encashing this unduly availed input tax credit  through IGST refund mode by showing export of cigarettes.
It became apparent from the investigation that Shri Ritesh Aggarwal , the proprietor of M/s SR Impex was de-facto controller of another firm — M/s SR International. In the supply chain of these firm were found to be six other dummy firms by the names of M/s Joles Trading Co, AS Traders, AR Traders, Om Traders, Capital India & S.M enterprises — all controlled by Shri Ritesh Agarwal. In all these firms, Shri Ritesh Aggarwal had availed and passed on ITC of Rs. 376 crore by means of billing without goods. Shri Ritesh Aggarwal was sanctioned refund of Rs. 37.13 crore from the department.
In addition, Shri Ritesh Aggarwal was found to be a habitual offender. In an earlier case also Show Cause Notice for demand of Rs 26.53 crore was issued to him for similar modus operandi of operating fake firm, M/s SS & Co.  and availing and passing on fake ITC.
Further, Shri Ritesh Aggarwal, who also adopts the alias of Ravi Gupta, was found to be accused in the Show Cause notice dated 01.03.2019 issued by the DGRI wherein fraudulent drawback was availed on imported areca nuts by forging the Certificate of Origins.
The investigation spanned multiple locations in Delhi and Haryana and based on documentary evidence and statement recorded of many suppliers of these firms, it was ascertained that Shri Ritesh Aggarwal is a key person in orchestrating this racket of making fake/non-existent/dummy firms and wrongly availment and passing on on ITC of Rs. 376 crore. Accordingly, Shri Ritesh Aggarwal was arrested on 09.02.2021 and produced before Duty MM, Patiala House Court Delhi, who ordered judicial custody.
Further investigations in the matter are under progress.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
220.66 cr Total Vaccine doses  have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
3,167 doses administered in last 24 hours
India's Active caseload currently stands at 49,015
Active cases stand at 0.11%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.71%
8,148 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,43,64,841
5,874 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
92.66 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 1,77,281 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
IREDA to Support NHPC in Green Energy projects for 5 years; MoU Signed today
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. , under administrative control of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy , today signed a Memorandum of Understanding  with NHPC Ltd., the PSU under Ministry of Power, for providing its technical expertise in developing renewable energy projects.
Under the , IREDA will undertake Techno-Financial due diligence of Renewable energy and Energy Efficiency & conservation projects for NHPC. IREDA will assist NHPC in developing an action plan to create and acquire Renewable Energy projects for the next 5 years.
The MoU was signed through virtual mode by Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA and Shri Abhay Kumar Singh, CMD, NHPC Ltd. Shri Chintan Shah, Director , IREDA, Shri Y. K. Choubey, Director , Sh. R P Goyal, Director and Shri Biswajit Basu, Director , Shri V K Maini, Executive Director , NHPC and other senior officials were also present
Signing the MoU, CMD, IREDA said: “The MoU highlights IREDA’s continuous efforts for the development of Renewable Energy sector in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This is a transformational opportunity for IREDA and NHPC to achieve a perfect synergy between the two organisations. It will facilitate knowledge and technology transfer and provide consultancy & research services, which will contribute to driving sustainable development of the country. The MoU with NHPC is the second one signed by IREDA within last one month. IREDA has signed a MoU with SJVN Ltd. in December, 2020. We look forward to extending our consultancy services to other PSUs as well as private organisations for the development of Renewable Energy sector.”
Ministry of Defence
INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED ARMOURED ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLE INDUCTED INTO INDIAN ARMY
The first set of indigenously developed next generation Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle was inducted into the Corps of Engineers of Indian Army in a solemn function attended by Gen MM Naravane, the Chief of Army Staff at Pune today.
The system has been designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation  and manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak & Bharat Electronics Limited, Pune. Despite the various restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic since the last one year, supply of the vehicle to Indian Army has been on schedule. The vehicle is capable of carrying out reconnaissance of water obstacles and boggy patches for execution of engineer tasks with capabilities to carry out reconnaissance and provide real time update to force commanders. The system will enhance existing engineer reconnaissance capabilities of Indian Army and would be a major game changer in support of mechanised operations in future conflicts.
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SC/VBY/KRC
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